OK, you guys should know by now that I have an angle or story or something behind everything. Since I'm bored at the moment, here it goes.
Five years or so ago I picked up a 1973 Montego GT real cheap from the deceased owner's sister. It has an N-code 429, buckets, console, power windows, comp suspension, dual sport mirrors, A/C, etc. Complete, not running. It is the "cousin" to my 1972 Torino Gran Sport, N-code 429, bench, comp suspension, dual sport mirrors, A/C, etc.
To me, the 19-seventy-TWO Montego is the most artistically-designed automobile that Ford ever built for regular production. Ever. I had been looking for a '72 GT for about 30 years or so. Fail, fail, and more fail. OK, since I bought the '73 I've searched for at least a '72 parts car so I can switch out the nose clip. Google up both years so you see what I'm talking about. Rear bumpers are the same for both. Also, my '73 has some corrosion around the tops of the wheel well mouldings and a few other places, so I could use some better metal there.
Got it now? For the price of this car, I can get what I need, part out the rest, and be dollars ahead, not that I care. OF COURSE, this shows up in Yuma, which is over three hours one way, during June temps. If there's any place hotter than here, it's Yuma. Why don't these people sell their cars when it's only 80?
Aargh. OK, here's some off-topic trivia. Sort of. What I don't know about my Montego GT and the Torino Gran Sport (BTW, GET off my lawn!), are two things. One, both are Data Tagged with 2.75 rears. With factory 429's, are the carriers N-cases? I dunno yet; haven't crawled under. An inordinate number of F-trucks in those years actually have N-cases, with smaller engines. Rumors I've read are that Ford over-produced N's then, and threw them into whatever, whenever. Also, do these C6's have a cast-iron tail shafts like the earlier Cobra Jets? I dunno yet; I haven't crawled under. I wouldn't have thought so, but a few years back I bought a boatload of parts from a guy locally, and in the mix was an NOS iron C6 tail shaft with a 1972 casting number on it. Hmm, I say pensively.
Yep, there's a method to the madness. It's all fun to me. I gots nuttin' else to do.